Section-break insulator.



Patented Sept. 14,1909.

'IINVENTOR WITNESSES:

.ATTORNEY I Awuw. I. MI 00. Pinto-mans. wuulmwmn L1 THEODORE VARNEY, OF IITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SECTION-BREAK INSULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed. June 4, 1906. Serial No. 320,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE Vienna, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Section- Break Insulators, of which the following is a specification. 1

lily invention relates to electric trolley line construction and it has for its object to provide a section break insulator for such construction that shall be simple and durable and adapted for use in connection with high speed sliding or how trolleys.

In trolley line construction, it is often desirable to divide the line into a series of sections which are insulated from each other and which may be connected, through suitable switching devices, by shunt circuit-s. When an arrangement of this kind is employed, a section break insulator must be provided which is capable of withstanding the mechanical tension in the line and which is also capable of resisting the electrical strains imposed by the voltage of the line.

The section break insulator of my invention is constructed in view of the aforesaid requirements and is further arranged so that, under normal conditions, a sliding or how trolley may pass over it without becoming electrically disconnected from the supply My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a section break insulator constructed in accordance therewith. Figs. 3 and at are detail views of the trolley end clamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the insulator here illustrated comprises a pair of similar clamping end members 1 and 2 to which the extremities of the trolley conductors 1* and 2, which are to be electrically separated, are connected and a pair of side bars 3 and 4: which are similar to each other. The side bars 3 and 4:, as illustrated, severally com prise a series of sections 5, 6 and 7 of insulating material which are joined together by plates 8 and 9 of conducting material to which they are bolted and are attached to the end clamps 1 and 2, forming a long, and substantially rectangular, frame. The insulating sections 7 are divided longitudinally into two strips, the lower of which may readily'be replaced, when worn, without dismantling theframe. A pair of conductors 10 and 11 are electrically connected to the respective end clamps 1 and 2 and extend along the lower edges of the insulating sections and 6, being held in position at each end by Ushaped bolts 6 which pass-through holes in the end clamps and also similar clamps 1 and 2 are completely separated from each other electrically while the conductors and 11, which are respectively connected thereto, extend over the middle sections 6 of the insulating side bars 3 and 4 and,.conseq uently, a sliding or how trolley will move into engagement with the second pionductor before 1t 1s disengaged from the rst.

The conducting end clamps l and 2 are preferably made of cast material, such as brass, and each of them is provided with side plates 13 and 13 to which the ends of the insulating side bars 3 and 1 are bolted and with across web 1 1 and a projection 15 which is grooved to receive a trolley conductor. The side plates 13 are also flanged to receive the ends of the conductors 10 and 11. The construction of the end members 1 and 2 is such that the trolley line conductors enter centrally located grooves 16 at the level of the line and are then bent upwardly, following a curved portion of the groove to which they may be clamped by suitable means. The contact edges of the section break devices are substantially in one plane so that a sliding trolley may pass over it smoothly.

The end castings 1 and 2 are provided with loops 17, located substantially at the corners of the rectangular frame, by means of which the section break device may be suspended in a plane parallel to that of the track below it. The ends of the trolley conductor may extend for a short distance inwardly and upwardly after leaving the end clamps so that a shunt may be attached directly thereto and a good electrical connection insured.

Although a specific arrangement is shown, I desire that only such limitations be imhaving upturned outer ends clamped to op posite end castings and having upturned inner ends clamped to certain of said side plates.

2. A section break device for trolley con ductors comprising parallel bars of insulating material, combined end castings and trolley conductor clamps, contact conductors severally connected to opposite end castings and extending along the bottom edges of the two side bars beyond their middle points,

- and detachable insulating contact strips located between the inner end of each contact conductor and one of the end castings.

3. A section break device for trolley conductors which are adapted for contact'devices having relatively Wide contact areas, sald device compr1smg combmed end brackets and trolley-conductor clamps, parallel sectional side bars of insulating material, plates for clamping the bar sections together, and conductors severally connected 'to the end brackets and to certain of said'clamping plates and extending along the side bars such distances as to overlap.

4. A supply line section break device for sliding trolleys comprising a frame having spaced sectional side bars of insulating material, side plates for clampingthe bar sections together, end clamps of conducting material having center grooves to receive line conductors, and means for clamping the conductors in the grooves, and relatively short overlapping conductors disposed adjacent to the lower edges of the side bars and having upturned ends fastened to opposite end clamps of the frame and to certain of said side plates.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of May,

THEODORE VARNEY. lVitnesses ARTHUR J. SWEET, BIRNEY I-IINEs. 

